The Barr. Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party has withdrawn the automatic ticket it earlier reserved for the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi and Abia State governor, Alex Otti, for the 2027 general elections.
This was made known in the resolutions of the Abure faction of the party after its National Executive Council(NEC) meeting, which was held on Monday in Abuja.
The party said that it has thrown open all its tickets, from the presidency to the House of Assemblies to all qualified Nigerians.
In a communique signed by Abure, and National Secretary, Umar Ibrahim, nullified the decision taken at the stakeholders’ meeting convened by Otti in Umuahia.
They maintained that there was no vacuum in the leadership of the party after “conducting its National Convention in line with its constitution, the Electoral Act and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on March 27, 2024, at Nnewi Anambra State.”
The Abure-led NEC consequently called on the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, “to stop aiding and abetting the Governor of Abia State Alex Otti to further cause damage to the party.
“NEC in session also noted that His Excellency, Alex Otti, has constantly quoted the INEC Chairman as saying that the tenure of the officers of the party has expired, which His Excellency Alex Otti said had necessitated his calling of the meeting and setting up a Caretaker Committee.
“On the basis of the foregoing therefore, NEC in session hereby calls on all teeming members, supporters and members of the general public to kindly disregard the so-called meeting and its outcome.”
The also reimposed confidence in the leadership of Abure-led National Working Committee and urged all party members to continue to respect the leadership of the party and obey its lawful directives.
It also delegated its powers to fill vacant positions in the NWC and also approved the conduct of state, local government and ward congress as may be schedule by the National Working Committee in line with party’s constitution and other extant laws.
“NEC in session also approved the composition of the disciplinary committee as provided in the constitution.
